Sources indicate that George Lucas is set on rereleasing the "Star Wars" franchise in new 3D conversions beginning in 2012. Although 3D versions have been rumored for some time, Lucas purportedly was waiting until there were enough screens available to make the release a sizable event.

Fox, which released all six original "Star Wars" films, also would release the 3D versions.

Episode I, "The Phantom Menace," would be first out of star-dock during early 2012. After that, each film would be released in order at the same time in consecutive years, depending on how well the first rerelease does.

Each conversion takes at least a year to complete, with Lucas overseeing the process to make sure each is as perfect as possible. He has said that the "Avatar" experience convinced him that "Star Wars" is ready for the state-of-the-art 3D treatment.

Starting with "Phantom Menace," Lucasfilm would use several higher-end conversion houses to work on the project. By late winter or early spring in 2012, the exhibition industry should have all the 3D screens anyone could want for such a release.

At present, pics are limited to 2,000-2,500 3D locations owing to an insufficient installed base of projectors and screens. Movie theaters are adding 3D screens at a clip of 500 a month in the U.S. Foreign exhibitors also are pushing into 3D as quickly as possible now that financing for the installations is flowing.

Also pushing the timetable is a potential breakthrough in 3D TV technology. With Samsung penetrating the market with 50,000-plus 3D-equipped sets and Sony recently sending its version to market, the home-viewing experience could be primed for 3D DVD versions of the films by the time the new 3D theatrical releases have run their course.

Lucas purportedly is lining up the theatrical rereleases as a lead-in to the ultimate home-viewing experience. Beyond that, the property would launch to other 3D media.

In the meantime, Lucas plans a comprehensive Blu-ray Disc set of the six films next year, which would include upgraded picture and sound quality, new deleted scenes and special features.

I wonder if a 3rd dimension will make me give a shit about the characters or anything going on. I'm guessing not. I'll never be able to test my theory, though, since there is no force on Earth that can compel me to attend this shameless money grab.

I wonder if a 3rd dimension will make me give a shit about the characters or anything going on. I'm guessing not. I'll never be able to test my theory, though, since there is no force on Earth that can compel me to attend this shameless money grab.

I never understood the hate for Phantom Menace. I thought it was an awesome Star Wars film, complete with Jedi vs. Sith, a great race, awesome lightsaber battles and the perfect Jedi in Liam Neeson.

I also believe that it's John Williams finest Star Wars score, maybe his best score, ever.

Personally, Jar Jar never bothered me and I liked the story line quite a bit. With that said, AOTC is absolutely unwatchable for me and ROTS is only slightly better.

I will keep looking on ebay, amazon and such but they never realeased the VHS version of Revenge of the Sith around Nashville. I have the other 5 in VHS.

According to the Wiki, Revenge of the Sith was never released on VHS in the USA, but it was released on VHS in Australia and the UK.

"This release is notable because, due to marketing issues, it was the first Star Wars film never to be released on VHS in the United States.[43] However, the film was released on VHS in Australia, the United Kingdom and other countries in the world.[44]"

I never understood the hate for Phantom Menace. I thought it was an awesome Star Wars film, complete with Jedi vs. Sith, a great race, awesome lightsaber battles and the perfect Jedi in Liam Neeson.

I also believe that it's John Williams finest Star Wars score, maybe his best score, ever.

Personally, Jar Jar never bothered me and I liked the story line quite a bit. With that said, AOTC is absolutely unwatchable for me and ROTS is only slightly better.

Without Jar-Jar, Phantom Menace would have been a fantastic film. It did a very good job setting up the underpinnings of the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Empire. You just have to make it through all of the Jar Jar crap.

I totally agree with your comments about Williams score, Phantom is one of my favorites that he has done. It is a fantastic piece of musical work. And the podrace is pretty awesome too.

Without Jar-Jar, Phantom Menace would have been a fantastic film. It did a very good job setting up the underpinnings of the fall of the Jedi and the rise of the Empire. You just have to make it through all of the Jar Jar crap.

I totally agree with your comments about Williams score, Phantom is one of my favorites that he has done. It is a fantastic piece of musical work. And the podrace is pretty awesome too.

The podrace would have been awesome, but for me, honestly, that two-headed announcer absolutely ruined it. It hate Greg Proops. The score is first rate, though.

Neither bothered me. I loved the political undertones, Liam Neeson's portrayal of Qui-Gon Jin, who embodied what I had imagined the Jedi to be before Order 66, and thought that Maul was an awesome (although under-used) Sith Lord.

My biggest complaint of PM was the casting of Samuel L. Jackson and the character Ric Olie, who explained everything before it happened.

Neither bothered me. I loved the political undertones, Liam Neeson's portrayal of Qui-Gon Jin, who embodied what I had imagined the Jedi to be before Order 66, and thought that Maul was an awesome (although under-used) Sith Lord.

My biggest complaint of PM was the casting of Samuel L. Jackson and the character Ric Olie, who explained everything before it happened.

Jar Jar bothered me more than Jake Lloyd, and I also could have done without Samuel L. Jackson. Ray Parks as Darth Maul was awesome, and is one of the better villains in the entire series.

Personally, I think Lucas "****ed up" the prequels after TPM because he listened to the fans.

People were clamoring for something far less simple than the PM and more in the vein of ESB. I think had he stayed true to his original vision, the prequels would have been better received.

The bottom line for me is that The Phantom Menace looked and felt like a Star Wars film to me. It was filmed on location in Venice and Tunisia and looked like it. It was shot to film (not digital) and has a very "rich" look. It feels like a great film, even though Jar-Jar was annoying for many.

AOTC looks cheesy digital with too many blue screens. The Geonosis segment looks like a bad video game, especially the superimposed actors. The lightsaber fights were poorly coordinated and Jango Fett's death was an afterthought. Besides that, George Lucas could have gotten a better performance from a digital character than he did from Hayden, who's an absolutely awful, wooden actor.

ROTS was better, but Palpatine's transformation was comical. The Wookie Home World looked far less digital than any of the worlds in AOTC, but it wasn't that convincing. I liked the storyline much better and it was cool to see the lightsaber battle between Anakin & Obi Wan but overall, it felt forced and rushed.

Anakin killing children was whitewashed, Natalie Portman had a difficult time showing any interest in the film and character (besides the fact she "died of a broken heart" ) and the ending was ridiculous and should have ended when Obi-Wan gave baby Luke to Owen Lars.

The bottom line for me is that The Phantom Menace looked and felt like a Star Wars film to me. It was filmed on location in Venice and Tunisia and looked like it. It was shot to film (not digital) and has a very "rich" look. It feels like a great film, even though Jar-Jar was annoying for many.

100% agree. Phantom except for Jar Jar was great. The other two looked too digital to me.

AOTC is the weakest of the bunch.

Im not even sure of there needed to be 3 movies (except for monetary reasons) Theres a ton of filler in there.

I think Lucas got sort of boxed in creatively making prequels. Obscure characters and references have to match up exactly right or fanboys will go nuts.

AOTC was the only one of the films that I can honestly say I walked out of the theatre and was severely disappointed in. I was disappointed with some of Revenge of the Sith, but pleased overall, and other than Jar Jar, I was very pleased with Phantom...but AOTC is the one I have watched the least.

AOTC was the only one of the films that I can honestly say I walked out of the theatre and was severely disappointed in. I was disappointed with some of Revenge of the Sith, but pleased overall, and other than Jar Jar, I was very pleased with Phantom...but AOTC is the one I have watched the least.

You need to watch the Red Letter Media reviews of these movies. They're long, but dead on in the mountains of malice they heap upon Darth Lucas for foisting these three abominations upon us, and frankly they're far more entertaining than the movies themselves.

You need to watch the Red Letter Media reviews of these movies. They're long, but dead on in the mountains of malice they heap upon Darth Lucas for foisting these three abominations upon us, and frankly they're far more entertaining than the movies themselves.